Solomon Islands and Regional: China will almost certainly attend PIF, and build influence through increasingly militarised support
On 30 August, China donated communication systems, power generators, uniforms, and unspecified “community policing supplies” to the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF). A special weapons and tactics (SWAT) demonstration followed the handover ceremony using Chinese weapons. Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Jeremiah Manele, noted that the donation was particularly important ahead of the country’s hosting of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) starting on 8 September.
Assessment: China is likely to use its support in the security area and its embassy officials to participate in the PIF, despite the Solomon Islands declaring that only full members would be able to attend. Limiting participation was almost certainly a move to block Taiwan’s attendance and was strongly influenced by China - on 29 August, Tonga also removed references to China and Taiwan in a media release announcing its achievements as outgoing PIF Chair. Separately, China’s influence in the Solomon Islands’ security sector continues to reflect the most militarised and lethal of its support in the region. The SWAT training used QBZ-95 assault rifles that were at the centre of a 2022 controversy regarding their authenticity as replicas or fully functioning weapons donated by China. It has not donated lethal equipment to other South Pacific states.
Sources: Prime Minister Manele, “Prime Minister Manele Expresses Gratitude for China’s Generous Donation of Police Assets to RSIPF,” Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Government of Solomon Islands, August 30, 2025; “Pacific News in Brief for 3 September,” RNZ Pacific, September 3, 2025; Stephen Dziedzic, “Solomon Islands Police Show Off Fake Guns Given to Them by Chinese Government After ‘Secret’ Delivery,” ABC News, March 23, 2022.
